Peter Jones CBE announces official trading of Tycoon in Schools 2013

700 students receive up to £1,000 funding to compete in second year of nationwide young enterprise competition

by Megan Dunsby

Updated: Nov 7, 2013 Published: Nov 4, 2013

Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones CBE has today announced that his national competition for young entrepreneurs, Tycoon in Schools 2013, has begun trading.

Backed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) and run by the Peter Jones Foundation, the competition seeks to encourage enterprising activity in children and schools across the UK.

Chosen from 3,000 applicants, 700 “high-calibre” students aged between 11 and 18 will now go head-to-head with their business ideas in a bid to be crowned winner.

To help them develop their business propositions, each student has received up to £1,000 and a resource pack which includes calculators, lapel badges and personalised business cards.

Successful business ideas include a first aid training course for all age groups pitched by a team of 16-year-olds from Feltham Community College as well as a wristband-design business ran by a group of 11-year-olds from Heron Hall Academy in London.

The overall winner of Tycoon in Schools 2013 will be announced in January 2014 and additional prizes will be awarded for community engagement, achievement, sustainability and best business concept.

Running for its second year, the campaign looks to follow on last year’s success which saw over 500 children compete with the Ultimate Tycoon in Schools prize awarded to 14-year-old Eleanor Bullough for her eco-friendly paper garland business.

Jones commented: “Tycoon in Schools’ mission is to put enterprise at the very heart of every young person’s education. The enthusiasm of this year’s participants demonstrates that entrepreneurship is really beginning to be celebrated amongst our future work force.”